Tag Archives: surcharge

Colorado introduces bill to change credit card surcharge law in 2021

Posted on by
Reply

Can merchants surcharge in Colorado in 2021? A pending bill may make it possible for all merchants in 2021 or 2022. The current law says a seller, lessor, or company issuing a credit or charge card is prohibited from imposing a surcharge against a person who elects to pay for a sales or lease transaction by using a credit or charge card.

5-2-212. Surcharges on credit transactions – prohibition

(1) Except as otherwise provided in sections 24-19.5-103 (3) and 29-11.5-103 (3), C.R.S., no seller or lessor in any sales or lease transaction or any company issuing credit or charge cards may impose a surcharge on a holder who elects to use a credit or charge card in lieu of payment by cash, check, or similar means. A surcharge is any additional amount imposed at the time of the sales or lease transaction by the merchant, seller, or lessor that increases the charge to the buyer or lessee for the privilege of using a credit or charge card. For purposes of this section, charge card includes those cards pursuant to which unpaid balances are payable on demand.(2) A discount offered by a seller or lessor for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check, or other means not involving the use of a seller or lender credit card shall not constitute a finance charge if such discount is offered to all prospective buyers and its availability is disclosed to all prospective buyers clearly and conspicuously in accordance with regulations of the administrator.

The proposed bill:

  • Repeals the prohibition; and
  • Limits the maximum surcharge amount per transaction to 2% of the total cost to the buyer for the sales or lease transaction or the merchant discount fee , which is defined as the actual fee that a seller or lessor (merchant) pays its processor or service provider to process the transaction .

Summary: A merchant is required to display notice regarding the surcharge on the merchant’s premises or, for online purchases, before an online customer’s completion of the sales or lease transaction.The bill prohibits applying the surcharge on debit or gift cards. If a merchant imposes a surcharge in violation of the bill, an individual consumer aggrieved by the violation may seek enforcement of the violation as an excess charge under the “Uniform Consumer Credit Code – Remedies and Penalties”.

In my opinion, this is a great start, however, BILL 21-091 conflicts with card network rules allowing charge up to 4% IF that’s actual cost. If merchants sell in multiple states, the 2% Colorado cap presents a challenge if the merchant average cost is higher. Most merchants will be forced to collect less for all states due to technology limitations, whereby they can only specify one rate and cannot distinguish by state.

Also, it could be interpreted that surcharge must be actual cost for EACH transaction vs avg, which few businesses have technology capability. The bill would be better if it just revoked surcharge ban, requiring businesses comply with card network rules.

  • https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-091
  • https://3dmerchant.com/blog/merchant-bulletins-downloads.

Call now for current information specific to your situation. Neither Christine Speedy nor this web site provide legal advice. Consult an attorney for all your legal questions.

Does your company want to surcharge? Call Christine Speedy right now at 954-942-0483, 9-5 ET for a compliant solution. Please share your surcharge insights for others and ask any questions below. The information herein is based upon public information available at the time written and may change.

US Court rules Kansas credit card surcharge ban unconstitutional

Posted on by
Reply

Kansas has prohibited surcharging for decades, but a February 25, 2021 successful challenge changes that. Like many other states that had old statutes regarding surcharging, courts are ruling in favor of plaintiff’s. The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas a part of plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment in an action concerning whether a state statute that bans credit card surcharges violates the First Amendment.

EXCERPT: “As aptly stated by Judge Tjoflat in Dana’s R.R. Supply v. Atty. Gen., Fla., 807 F.3d 1235, 1239 (11th Cir. 2015), “surcharges and discounts are nothing more than two sides of the same coin; a surcharge is simply a ‘negative’ discount, and a discount is a ‘negative’ surcharge.” It is comparable to permitting a restauranteur to serve “half-full” beverages but not “half-empty” beverages. Id. at 1245. Kansas prefers to label the lower price attendant to cash purchases a “discount” and so prohibits Plaintiff from labeling the higher price of credit purchases as a surcharge, even though both describe the same state of affairs: cash purchasers pay less and credit card purchasers pay more because of the cost associated with using credit cards. Again, as Judge Tjoflat pointed out, such a law does not ban surcharges; it merely targets expression and could be called a “surcharges-are-fine-just-don’t-call-them-that-law.” Id. at 1245. This elevation of form over substance, which fails to directly and materially advance any substantial state interest, unjustifiably infringes on Plaintiff’s right to convey information to consumers in a way that truthfully and accurately describes the transaction and allows consumers to make an informed choice. “The First Amendment prevents staking citizens’ liberty on such distinctions in search of a difference.” Id.
On a case within its jurisdiction, and upon the filing of an appropriate pleading, the court may declare the rights of an interested party seeking such a declaration. 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). Based on the uncontroverted facts, Plaintiff has shown that K.S.A. 16a-2-403, as interpreted in Kansas and as applied to Plaintiff, violates Plaintiff’s rights under the First Amendment. The court concludes Plaintiff is entitled to a declaratory judgment to that effect.“

For more information, see Surcharge law resources under Merchant Alerts & Rules Links or contact your acquirer for accurate and current information specific to your situation. Neither Christine Speedy nor this web site provide legal advice. Consult an attorney for all your legal questions.

Does your company want to surcharge? Call Christine Speedy right now at 954-942-0483, 9-5 ET for a compliant solution. Please share your comments below. The information herein is based upon public information available at the time written and may change.

New York credit card surcharge rules US Supreme Court Update

Posted on by
Reply

Can New York state general businesses surcharge credit cards? No, it’s illegal. The US Supreme Court recently ruled on credit card surcharge rules for class action lawsuit Expressions Hair Design, et al., Petitioners v. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General of New York, et al. Judgement issued May 1 2017, sending the case back to lower court.

US Supreme Court History of case
https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docketfiles/15-1391.htm

EXPRESSIONS HAIR DESIGN v. SCHNEIDERMAN ( )
808 F. 3d 118, vacated and remanded. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/15-1391

Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman, NYS Attorney General oral arugments
https://lawaspect.com/case-expressions-hair-design-v-schneiderman/

EXPRESSIONS HAIR DESIGN LLC v. SCHNEIDERMAN, Decided: September 29, 2015
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1714180.html